Scott Duncan Hut

Scott Duncan Hut, also called Mt. Daly Hut, is a 12-person alpine hut at 2,682 m (8,800 ft), on a bench above a rock bluff on Mount Daly’s northwest ridge near the south end of the Wapta Icefields. Treat it as an overnight mountaineering or ski-touring destination, not a roadside shelter or casual day stop.

The usual Wapta Traverse approach from Balfour Hut crosses the Waputik Icefield and Balfour High Col: about 10 km, climbing 520 m before dropping roughly 250 m. Expect six to eight hours in winter and a couple of hours longer in summer. Crevasses near the col and icefall hazard from Mount Balfour make this serious glacier travel; stable snow and good visibility matter.

A southern route from West Louise Lodge via Sherbrooke Lake and Niles Glacier covers about 11 km with 1,190 m of climbing, usually taking six or seven hours. It leaves the trail and crosses alpine and glacier terrain too.

Built in 1988, this was the last hut established on the Wapta Icefield chain. It is commonly the final overnight stop on the traverse. Mount Balfour’s southeast ridge is a climbing objective from here, and Mount Daly is a winter snow-climb objective.

Reserve through the Alpine Club of Canada. Parks Canada requires a backcountry permit and a national park pass for overnight stays in Yoho. Confirm the hut’s food, water, cooking and washroom arrangements before setting out; those details affect what you need to carry.